Collecting mechanism for cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles



M. R. BOINNARD 3,137,110 COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTES OR OTHERROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Filed April 23, 1962 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tune 16, 1964 M.R. BOINNARD COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTES OR OTHER ROD-SHAPEDARTICLES June 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1962 AnoaueUnited States Patent 3,137,110 COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTES OROTHER ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Michel Ren Boinnard, Orleans, Loiret, France,assignor to Service dExploitation lndustrielle des Tabacs et desAllurnettes, Paris, France, a public establishment of France Filed Apr.23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,379 Claims priority, application France Apr. 24,1961 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-236) the said cigarettes are lined-up side byside into the open receptacles or trays, the cigarettes being guided asthey fall into the tray by a sloping guidehaving a width substantiallyequal to the length of a cigarette and stationarily fixed in position.Since the guide is stationary, the trays must be provided on twoopposite lateral faces with openings or cutout portions having a shapewhich corresponds to that of the guide.

It is an object of the invention to make it possible to use trays havingnon-perforated walls.

It is another object of the invention to reduce the lost filling spaceresulting from the clearance between the front side of a tray and theguide as and when the filling of a tray commences.

It is still another object of the invention to provide for a reserve ofcigarettes at the output end of the conveyor belt above the collectingtrays Further particular features and characteristics of the inventionwill be brought out by the description which follows below withreference to examples of construction of improved devices in accordancewith the invention as applied to the collecting of cigarettes in trays.The said description will be givenwith reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

1 FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal crosssection, of oneform of embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views in side elevation of the slopingguide seen in its two end positions and of the supporting box thereof;

FIGS. 5 to 7 are diagrammatic-views similar to FIG..1, showing threesuccessive stages of filling a tray, and

FIG. 8 is a view on a large scale and similar to FIG. 1, of another formof embodiment of the members for conveying and guiding the cigarettes.

In the example of construction of FIGS. 1 to 7, the cigarettes arriveperfectly lined-up, side by side, on the conveyor-belt 3 of thecigarettemaking machine, the axes of the cigarettes being at rightangles tothe direction. of

movement. In the vertical plane of the conveyor-belt 3, a travellingapron or endlesschain 110 which is imparted a continuous longitudinalmovement by virtue of a drum or sprocket-wheels 2, conveys thecontinuous train of trays 9, 8 to be filled and filled trays 7 in thedirection opposite to the direction of arrival of the cigarettes on theconveyor-belt 3. The speed of longitudinal movement of the trays is inprinciple uniform, but can be adjusted in relation to the output of themachine by means of any known speedvariation device which has not beenillustrated in the drawings. I

ice

The guide-supportii1g box 5 is secured to the frame 4 which supports theapron 1 and is located opposite to the end of the receiving apron of thecigarette-making machine. The box is essentially composed of twoend-plates assembled together by means of three distance-pieces 13(indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 3), two flanged rollers ill and 11which are mounted to rotate freely on their pivot pins and which areintended to guide the metallic plate 6 which holds the cigarettes insidethe filled portions of the trays, a rotary rubber roller 12 and a fixedrubber roller 20 which is mounted on the top distance-piece and isintended to serve as a stop or thrust-bearing member for the topincurved portion 21 of the guide 6. The roller 12 is continuously drivenin rotation by means of a lowpower electric motor 17 which is coupled toa reduction unit 18. The guide 6 is mounted freely between the rollers v10 and 11 on the one hand, and the rollers 12, 26 on the other hand, insuch manner that, when the lower end of the said guide is free orsubjected to the action of a force which is applied in the direction ofarrival of the cigarettes, the said lower end is accordingly in contactwith both rollers 10 and 11 and the top end 21 accordingly rests on thestationary roller 20 while on the other hand, when the lower end of theguide is subjected to the action of a force which is applied in thedirection of progression of the trays, namely in the direction oppositeto that previously mentioned, the lower end is in contact with therollers 10 and 12 and is therefore driven in an upward movement oftranslation by the roller 12.

The constant downward movement of the cigarettes is facilitated by achute 14 fitted with a finger 15 which is intended to eliminate anypossibility of jamming and a freely mounted shutter 16 which is intendedto regularize the feeding of the trays, more especially when the fillingof each tray commences. I

A plate 19 of transparent material is fitted on the frame of theassembly on. that side of the trays which is not closed, with a view toprotecting the ends of thecigarettesfrom being damaged against theprojecting portions of the frame 4.- r 1 During operation, thecigarettes which are lined-upon the receiving apron 3 fall off at theend of the latter and slide againstthe metallic guide 6 which holds thesaid cigarettes along the front side of each tray; the sloping plate 6guides the cigarettes inside the tray during the filling operation,while the level of the layers of cigarettes remains constant. In orderto obtain this result, the speed of forward motion of the aprons 1 isregulated by means of a speed-variation device, while the control ofthis variation can be carried out either manually or automatically bymeans of any known regulating device based on the control of the levelof cigarettes. 7 When the guide comes against the rim of the rear sideof the tray, the said guide swings over against the freely mountedroller 10 and comes into contact with the rubber roller 12 to which isimparted a continuous movement of rotation. As has been explained in theforegoing, the guide then moves upwards (as shown in FIG. 7) until itreaches the top portion of the tray. When passing above the rim, theguide is released from the roller 12 and falls down freely whilebeingguided by the rollers 10, 11 inside the following tray for thepurpose of performing another cycle (as shown in FIG. 5). The bottom endof the guide moves down the front Wall of the tray as the fillingoperation takes place until it reaches the bottom. At this moment, theincurved top end 21 rests on the stop roller 20 and the fillingoperation continues as can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 6.

In the example which is illustrated in FIG. 8, in which the memberswhich are similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 are designated by thesame reference numerals, the chute 14 is replaced by a hopper 22 ofrelatively large size and into which penetrates the receiving apron 3.

The said hopper 22 remains constantly filled with cigarettes up to alevel above that of the top length of the travelling apron 3. This levelis regulated by means of a pivoting pallet 23 which takesthe place of afloater and works in combination with a micro-switch 24 which controlsthe stopping of the trays-conveyor.

The hopper 22 constitutes a reserve of cigarettes which provides for thecomplete filling of the trays.

A shutter 25 which is fitted at the bottom portion of the hopper 22 andwhich is normally in contact with the guide 6 or retaining plate stopsthe movement of cigarettes as the filling of a tray commences and, aftera few moments, frees a sutficient quantity of cigarettes to prevent theformation of bridges in the hopper and to ensure that the cigarettesfall horizontally into the corner which is defined by the plate and thetray.

The guide-supporting box 5 which carries the metallic plate 6 forretaining the cigarettes inside the tray is in this case pivotallymounted about a pin 26 wihch is at right angles to the direction ofmovement of the trays as indicated by the arrows and which is located ata level.

below that of the top rims of the trays.

By virtue of this system of assembly, when the rear rim of the traycomes into contact with the guide at the end of the filling operation,this action is accordingly transmitted to that portion of the guidewhich is located above the pivot pin 26 of the box 5, thereby having theeffect of raising the box and consequently the guide 6 which accordinglytakes up a nearly vertical position (as shown in chain-dotted lines inFIG. 8); A fixed abutment limits the rotation of the box. As a result ofthis inclined position, the chamber which is formed between t the frontside of a tray and the metallicguide is accordingly reduced to asubstantial extent as the filling of the next tray commences.

At the same time as the box 5 swings upwards, the force applied by thetray against the guide has a tendency, as in the previous cycle ofoperation, to causethis latter to pivot about the central roller 10 andto put the guide in contact with the top rubberized roller 12, therotation of which drives the guide upwards until the bottom portion ofthis latter has escaped from the action of the tray.

As soon as the guide is no longer in contact with the in no way limitedto those details of construction which have been illustrated ordescribed and which have been given solely by way of example. Itaccordingly follows in particular that the guide-supporting box couldcomprise more than one sloping guide; for example two guides serving forthe purpose of collecting in two trains of trays fed. by the two streamsof a cigarette-making machine having two output channels, in which casethe box comprises an inter-mediate or centre plate, two pairs of flangedrollers and two rubber rollers keyed on a same shaft and finally, twogiudes 6 each corresponding to each stream of cigarettes. The two guidescan, however, be

v entirely separate form each other, and the u ward movement effected bythe said two guides as and when these latter come into contact with therear sides of the trays can take place at dilferent times, therebypermitting a displacement, whether manually or not, of the trays on thecoinveyor-apron. It also follows from the foregoing that the device forregulating the level of the cigarettes in the hopper could beconstituted by a photoelectric cell and a small'projector placed-on eachside of the hopper.

What I claim is:

V 1. In a collecting mechanism for cigarettes, or similar rod-shapedarticles, of the type comprising movable collecting trays having rearand forward Walls with free top rims, a conveyor belt for conveying thecigarettes to the trays, and guiding means for guiding said cigarettesfrom said conveyor belt into said trays, said guiding means comprising asupporting box, a sloping guide freely mounted on" said box and havingupper and lower positions, thrust bearing members and a driving memberfor said guide on said box, said sloping guide being adapted t to bedriven upwardly by said driving member to its upwall of the tray, thebox 5 is released and again pivots about its pin 26 under the action ofits weight and of the counterweight 27, thus again taking up theposition in dicated in full lines in FIG. 8, and the guide'6 slides intothe following tray. i A ratchet-wheel brake 28 damps the fall andprevents the impact of the box against the bottom abutment.

In this form of embodiment, the bottom'retaining plate guiding roller 11is slightly oii-centre on its pin. cordingly, as it' rotates,. the saidroller communicates oscillations to the plate 6, thus assisting thepacking of the cigarettes. The motor which drives the rubberized roller12 serving to lift the plate is fitted on a chain secured to the frameand is mounted on the pivotal axis of the box which is thus made lighterin weight. A flat belt provides the transmission and drives as it passesthe bottom eccentric roller.,

When the plate or guide reaches the top of its travel, the Weight of thesaid plate causes this latter to remain in contact with the rubberroller and continue its movement. A small roller bearing 29 which isheld by a spring 30 forces the plate to move away from the'rubberizedroller 12 when the said plate is no longeracted upon by the thrust ofthe tray.

The provision of a control member 23 at the level of the cigarettesinside the hopper makes it unnecessary to regulate the speed of theconveyor in relation to the output of the machine. This speed is setonce and for all at a value which is slightly higher than that which isrequired by the supply and the motor stops when the level inside thehopper becomes too low.

It is naturally understood that the present invention is per positionwhen said guide is submitted to a longitudinal thrust from the rear wallof said tray when coming into contact with said wall.

2. In a mechanism as in claim 1, said thrust-bearing members comprisingan upper supporting roller, an intermediate guiding rollerand a lowerguiding roller, and said driving member being a continuously drivenroller so located as said guide engages said driving roller when saidguide is pivoted about said intermediate guiding roller whensaid guideis submitted to said longitudinal thrust. I

3. Ina mechanism as in claim 2 wherein said lower guiding roller isoff-centre.

4. In a collecting mechanism as in claim 2 further an elastic urgingmeans on said box for disengaging said guide from said driving rollerwhen said guide is getting free from said rear wall.

5. In a collecting mechanism for cigarettes, or similar rod-shapedarticles, of the type comprising movable collecting trays having rearand forward walls with free top rims, a conveyor belt for conveying thecigarettes to the trays, and-guiding means for guiding said cigarettesfrom said conveyor belt into said trays, said guiding means comprising asupporting box pivotally mounted about an axis at right angles to thedirection of displacement of said trays and located below the level ofsaid top rimsof said tray walls, said box having a normal slopingposition and a substantially vertical position, means for permanentlyurging said box to said normal sloping position, and a sloping guidemounted on said box and having an upper position and a lower position,said guide 8. In a collecting mechanism for cigarettes, or similarrod-shaped articles, of the type comprising movable collecting trayshaving rear and forward walls with free top rims, a conveyor belt forconveying the cigarettes to the trays, and guiding means for guidingsaid cigarettes from said conveyor belt into said trays and comprising asupporting box, at least one sloping guide mounted on said box andadapted to be driven upwardly to an upper position when said guide comesinto contact with the rear wall of said trays and to be moved downwardlyafter getting free from said rear wall to come back to a lower position,said sloping guide being a plane plate having a longitudinal axis andmovable in its own plane with respect to said supporting box in thedirection of said axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ColginJune 11, 1895 Parker Dec. 31, 1912 Hillman Jan. 5, 1960 Pembroke Feb.23, 1960 Horgan Sept. 19, 1961 Schubert et a1. Mar. 13, 1962 FOREIGNPATENTS Great Britain Aug. 13, 1952

1. IN A COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTES, OR SIMILAR ROD-SHAPEDARTICLES, OF THE TYPE COMPRISING MOVABLE COLLECTING TRAYS HAVING REARAND FORWARD WALLS WITH FREE TOP RIMS, A CONVEYOR BELT FOR CONVEYING THECIGARETTES TO THE TRAYS, AND GUIDING MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID CIGARETTESFROM SAID CONVEYOR BELT INTO SAID TRAYS, SAID GUIDING MEANS COMPRISING ASUPPORTING BOX, A SLOPING GUIDE FREELY MOUNTED ON SAID BOX AND HAVINGUPPER AND LOWER POSITIONS, THRUST BEARING MEMBERS AND A DRIVING MEMBERFOR SAID GUIDE ON SAID BOX, SAID SLOPING GUIDE BEING ADAPTED TO BEDRIVEN UPWARDLY BY SAID DRIVING MEMBER TO ITS UPPER POSITION WHEN SAIDGUIDE IS SUBMITTED TO A LONGITUDINAL THRUST FROM THE REAR WALL OF SAIDTRAY WHEN COMING INTO CONTACT WITH SAID WALL.